Minjee Lee has matched one of her records to seize the first-round clubhouse lead at the Blue Bay LPGA Tour event in China.
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Chasing a second victory at the $US2.2 million ($A3.4 million) tournament, Lee carved out a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 on Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Thursday.
Australia's world No.5 won the event in 2016, setting three scoring records along the way - best first round (65), the 36-hole low total (135) and 72-hole low mark (275).
Playing in the first group of the morning and starting from the 10th tee, Lee led from the get-go after making her first birdie on the second hole at the final of three events on the tour's Asian swing.
The 27-year-old collected further birdies on 13, 15 and 18 to reach the turn at four under before draining two more on the first and third holes and icing her round with another on the last after five straight pars looked to have stalled her momentum.
The Blue Bay LPGA is only Lee's second second start of 2024 after the dual major champion tied for 29th on Sunday behind fellow Australian Hannah Lee at the at the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore.
Lee was leading Canadian Savannah Grewal and American Sarah Schmelzel - who still had six holes each to play in their opening rounds - by two shots when she signed her card.
Lee's playing partner, in-form New Zealander Lydia Ko, posted a four-under 68 to be sitting in a tie for fourth among the morning starters.
"We were really fortunate with very calm conditions starting out so we tried to take advantage of the nice conditions," Lee said.
Lee is playing just her second tournament since switching equipment from Srixon to Callaway on a multi-million-dollar deal.
The Perth star had to make some swing tweaks but has quickly ironed out any chinks.
"I actually touched on everything this off-season, especially with changes to my equipment to Callaway," she said.
"Everything has been a little bit of a process of getting used to it. It's going to take me a couple of events to knock the rust off and break those clubs in.
"I'm looking forward to the rest of the week."
Australian Associated Press
